Multimedia Encyclopedia

Cortisol - urine

A cortisol urine test measures the amount of the steroid hormone cortisol in the urine.

How the Test is Performed

A 24-hour urine sample is needed. The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to stop taking drugs that may affect the test.

On day 1, urinate into the toilet when you get up in the morning. Afterwards, collect all urine in a special container for the next 24 hours. Keep the container in a cool place during the test period.

On day 2, urinate into the container when you get up in the morning.

Cap the container. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place until you return it to the laboratory.

FOR INFANTS

Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with adhesive paper on one end), and place it on the infant. For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For girls, the bag is placed over the labia. Diaper as usual over the secured bag.

This procedure may take a couple of attempts -- lively infants can displace the bag. Check the infant frequently and change the bag after the infant has urinated into the bag. Drain the urine into the container for transport to the laboratory.

Deliver the urine to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is necessary for this test. If you are taking the collection from an infant, you may need a couple of extra collection bags.

How the Test Will Feel

The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

Why the Test is Performed

Cortisol is a steroid hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to ACTH, a hormone from the anterior pituitary gland in the brain. Cortisol levels rise and fall during the day. The highest levels occur at about 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and thelowest levels at about midnight.

ACTH

An ACTH test measures ACTH, a hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland in the brain.

The test is done to determine if you have increased or decreased cortisol production. Different diseases, such as Cushing's disease and Addison's disease, can lead to either too much or too little production of cortisol. Urine cortisol levels can help to diagnose these conditions.

Normal Results

Normal range: 10 - 100 micrograms per 24 hours (mcg/24h)

The examples above are common measurements for resultsof these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Normal results may sometimes be present in someone with mild Cushing syndrome. Sometimes the test may need to be repeated or another test (dexamethasone suppression test) may be done.Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Dexamethasone suppression test

Dexamethasone suppression test measures the response of the adrenal glands to ACTH.

The pituitary gland near the brain makes too much of the hormone ACTH (calledCushing's disease), which may happen with too much growth of the pituitary gland, a tumor of the pituitary gland, or a tumor elsewhere in the body (such as the pancreas, lung, and thyroid) that produces ACTH

Cushing's disease

Cushing’s disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The pituitary gland is an organ ...

Urine sample - illustration

A "clean-catch" urine sample is performed by collecting the sample of urine in midstream. Men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. The container is then given to the health care provider.

Urine sample

illustration

Female urinary tract - illustration

The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.

Female urinary tract

illustration

Male urinary tract - illustration

The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.

Male urinary tract

illustration

Urine sample - illustration

A "clean-catch" urine sample is performed by collecting the sample of urine in midstream. Men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. The container is then given to the health care provider.

Urine sample

illustration

Female urinary tract - illustration

The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.

Female urinary tract

illustration

Male urinary tract - illustration

The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.